OGUN: Ifa and the Spirit of Iron

Ògún is the Spirit of Iron in the West African religious tradition called Ifá. The essence of Ògún is considered one of many Spiritual Forces in Nature which are called Orisha. There are a large number of Orisha and each Orisha has its own Awo. The unique function of Ògún within the realm of Orisha Awo (Mysteries of Nature) is to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of Spiritual evolution, which includes the evolution of all that is. In order to do this Ògún must sacrifice all that stands in the way of spiritual evolution. Because of these sacred responsibility Ògún is considered the Guardian of Truth. Ògún does not protect the truth of what we would like to be, he guards the truth of what is. It is the process of making this distinction that lies at the core of Ògún’s mystery.